Panamanian President José Raul Mulino has rushed to dismiss Donald Trump's promise that the United States will "take back" the Panama Canal, shortly after his statement was reiterated during his inauguration speech.
"The canal is and will continue to be Panamanian and its administration will continue to be under Panamanian control in accordance with its permanent neutrality," Mulino said in a statement after Trump's inauguration.
Mulino also rejected Trump's claim that China is "operating" the canal, which connects the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean.
"There is no presence of any nation in the world interfering in our administration," Mulino said without directly mentioning China.
The President of Panama called for dialogue on the issue to "clarify the points mentioned without violating the right" of his country to "total sovereignty and ownership of the Canal" .
Meanwhile, the Authority that manages the Panama Canal told CNN that it has no reaction to Trump's comments.
Trump claimed during his inaugural address that Panama has violated treaty agreements requiring neutrality in canal operations and that American ships are being heavily taxed, according to him.
" American ships are being heavily burdened and not treated fairly in any way shape or form, and that includes the United States Navy. And on top of that, China is operating the Panama Canal, and we didn't give it to China. We gave it to Panama. And we're going to take it back ," Trump claimed. (A2 Televizion)
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